Paul Tagliabue and his wife, Chandler, along with their son, Drew, and his longtime partner announced Tuesday that they are contributing $50,000 to Mainers United for Marriage,

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) _ Former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue and his family are giving $50,000 in support of a Nov. 6 ballot question seeking to legalize same-sex marriage in Maine.

Tagliabue and his wife, Chandler, along with their son, Drew, and his longtime partner announced Tuesday that they are contributing the money to Mainers United for Marriage, the group spearheading the campaign.

In a prepared statement, Tagliabue said he has been a longtime supporter of legalizing gay marriage. He said his son and his son's partner have been together for 20 years.

The Tagliabues are longtime seasonal residents of Maine, spending summers off the coast of Boothbay Harbor for the past 40 years.

Tagliabue was the NFL commissioner for 17 years, until his retirement in 2006.